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corroborate

v.
C1 Advanced US //kɝˈɑbɝˌeɪt// UK //kəɹˈɒbəɹˌeɪt// cor·rob·o·rate Archaic

v. to support a story or fact with evidence. You use this when you want to show that something is true by providing more proof.

v. to provide evidence or testimony that supports a claim or statement. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The witness's testimony corroborates the suspect's story.

CONTEXTUAL

The forensic evidence found at the scene corroborates the victim's account of the events.

COMPLEX

While the initial report suggested a minor accident, the subsequent investigation by the insurance company corroborates a more serious structural failure.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

First attested in the 1530s; borrowed from Latin corrōborātus (“strengthened”), perfect passive participle of corrōborō (“to support, corroborate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + rōborō (“to strengthen”), from rōbur, rōboris (“strength”). Regular participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English, otherwise archaic.

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